Govt Eyes 800 Environment Friendly CNG Buses

ISLAMABAD: Plying of 800 CNG buses in Pakistan is under process that will help to provide improved and environment healthy transportation facilities. Government is committed to adopt clean energy system of transportation in Pakistan.

Federal Minister for Environment Hameedullah Jan Afridi stated this while talking to Ambassador of Argentine Rodolfo J Martine-Saravia who called on him at his office.

Afridi appreciated the cooperation of Argentine in different walks of life and said that mutual cooperation would be further expanded between the two countries. He also mentioned recent advancements in various segments relating to environmental up gradation and expressed his endeavor to make all efforts fruitful for green growth.

Martine-Saravia discussed matters pertaining to mutual interest with the minister and assured that Argentine would extend every possible assistance for environmental betterment efforts.

Afridi said every possibility was being explored to meet crunch in the country besides promoting alternative energy with active participation of public sector

PR Invites South Korean Railways to Operate its Five Trains

LAHORE (November 23, 2010) : Pakistan Railways has invited South Korean Railways to operate its five trains on various routes that are running in deficit, General Manager Operations, Ishfaq Khataq told media here at the PR Headquarters on Monday.

He said South Korean Railway experts have agreed to train Pakistan railway staff and help restore infrastructure of the under-utilised railway network.

Earlier, South Korean railway delegation met with PR officials at the Railways headquarters and discussed various proposals to bring improvement in Pakistan Railways. Khataq said that Pakistan Railways needs at least 200 locomotives as early as possible to resume its normal operations and play its vital role in the economic development of the nation.

South Korea has offered us six locomotives of 3000 horsepower capacity, which is quiet insufficient, he added. After checking their performance we will precede further to upgrade our system GM further added. He said Pakistan railways has offered the South Korean Railways to run its trains on five routes with open access policy. South Korean trains will operate on Lahore-Faisalabad, Lahore-Gujarat-Gujranwala, Lahore-Kasur and Wagha routes. He said that delegation would soon send feasibility report regarding trains operation.

Punjab Government vs Korean Company on Bus Rapid Transit Project

So here comes the first rift between the Punjab Government & the Korean Company ............. this really helps in delaying the projects .......... keep it up

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8,000 CNG buses to be launched soon'

ISLAMABAD (November 20, 2010) : As many as 8,000 environment friendly CNG buses will be launched in major cities of the country under Shaheed Benazir Bhutto CNG Bus Project. An amount of Rs 300 million has been transferred to the State Bank of Pakistan for implementation of this project in Karachi during its initial phase of implementation, an official source informed.

Under the project being executed under Ministry of Environment, 225 buses will be launched for Karachi city to overcome the transport problems faced by the citizens. The bus service will later be introduced in Multan, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, Faisalabad, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Gujranwala and twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, the official added. A subsidy of Rs 300,000 will be given to those investors who would buy more than 25 CNG buses.

2,000 CNG Buses to be Imported from Argentina soon

The Environment Protection Department, Punjab (EPD), in a bid to bring down the environmental pollution, especially emissions in the air, has started negotiations with an Argentinean company for providing CNG buses as well as other technologies in near future.

The EPD officials said the company GNC Galileo, Argentina, has already signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Federal Ministry of Environment. Under this project, 2000 CNG buses for public transport in 10 major cities of the country will be provided while CNG Bus Refueling Stations will also be established to provide the required basic on clean fuels such as CNG.

On Thursday, Sajjad Saleem Hotiana, Secretary EPD Punjab, held a meeting with Rodolfo Martin Saravia, Argentinean Ambassador, regarding the use and promotion of CNG in buses & other vehicles and establishment of Bus Refueling Stations in Punjab. Osvaldo Claudio Del Campo, CEO, GNC Galileo, Syed Ahmed Masood, Managing Director, ACE Energy and other senior officers of the Environment Protection Department, also attended the meeting.

Rodolfo Martin Saravia, Argentinean Ambassador, highlighted the commitment of the Government of Argentina to the Government of Pakistan’s major initiative towards environmental protection, especially air emissions control in the major cities of the Pakistan through promoting Mass Transit for the convenience of public transport operation.

The Secretary EPD, Punjab, informed the delegation that the Punjab Government was very much committed to the use of clean fuels in the transport sector and the Environment Department had always promoted the use of CNG in vehicles to improve the environment. He said induction of 2-stroke engine rickshaws had been banned in the Punjab w.e.f. 01.01.2005 and 4-stroke engine CNG rickshaws have been introduced. The Transport Department is planning to replace old diesel engine buses with the CNG engine and Euro-2 standard engine buses.

Bus Rapid Transit System to be Introduced in Lahore: Korean Firm Agreed

If this project is going to be implemented ........... than certainly Lahore Mass Transit project is over ............ Ironic .......... These people throw the national interest just for the sake of their interest ..........

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So with this

CNG buses Refilling Terminals: Argentinian Company Looking forward to Investing $6 million

ISLAMABAD (November 10, 2010) : An Argentina CNG company as shown interest to invest $6 million for setting up CNG buses refilling terminals in 10 big cities of Pakistan to help government curb the health damaging carbon emission.

At the resident of Ambassador of Argentina Rodolfo J. Martin-Saravia, Chief Executive Officer, Galileo Osvldo C del Campo of CNG Galileo companies gave a brief presentation to State Minister/Chairman Board of Investment (BOI) Saleem Mandviwalla regarding the expertise of the company in installing CNG equipment for refilling cheap fuel in public transport world-wide.

CEO said the cost of Galileo CNG equipment was more than conventional CNG stations set up in Pakistan but their equipment has no match as far as safety and fuel pumping efficiency is concerned. He said that his company was doing successful business world-wide. Their refilling stations were very successful in countries like Korea, Spain and Singapore where there is no use of gas.

He further said Galileo had the capacity and expertise to transport CNG on trolleys from one point to another where gas stations were located. "Our big lorries travel 100km a day in Philippine to transport the gas", he said. Ambassador of Argentina Rodolfo J Martin-Saravia said being ambassador it was his responsibility to work for boosting economic co-operation between two countries. "It is essential that Pakistan must provide level playing field and equal opportunities to local and foreign investors to allure Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)", he said.

He anticipated that industrial growth in Pakistan would gather momentum after completion of the projects like Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline, Tarkmanistan-Afganistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline and Thar Coal Gasification Project. During discussions, Chairman BOI briefed the visiting CEO that economic co-ordination committee (ECC) was the highest forum which authorise the allocation of gas quota to a particular sector. Under the directive of Cabinet Committee, ECC was dealing with the gas management.

He further said due to gas deficit, government had put ban on issuance of new CNG station licences. Balochistan was an exception as the province has a few gas stations. He said the transporting CNG would be a unique technology in Pakistan. He also suggested the CEO to move a summary to Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources for ECC approval. Managing Director of ACE Energy (Pvt) Ltd Syed Ahmed Masood was also present at the occasion. He said investors anticipated that new CNG policy to be announced shortly would remove the bottlenecks for fresh investment in gas sector.

Wake Up Call for Lahore transport Company - Ironic

How long this LTC will take to bring in the bused ........... it now more than two years of this organization working ............ Regrettable

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Train Service started in Makkah & Medina

Hajj becomes easier ........ much needed project in Makkah and Madina

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Steps for 400 Buses soon in Lahore: LTC

I wish we can see these buses on the road in this government tenure.

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November 05, 2010: ARRANGMENTS have been finalised by the Lahore Transport Company for the provision of 400 new buses in the City.

Addressing a meeting, according to a press release, Chairman LTC Tasneem Noorani said a mechanism has been evolved to provide transport related infrastructure in Lahore including a system of enforcement, modern bus depot and terminals, vehicle inspection centres and driving schools.

The moot was held to review the project of new buses in Lahore. Director Premier Transport Company Noor-ud-Din Ahmed, GM Enforcement LTC Fawad Qureshi, GM Finance Adnan Mudassar, Media Advisor Amjad Hussain and Senior Manager Operation Tanweer Siddiqui were also present there.

The chairman said that 400 new bus shelters would be set up in the City. He said these shelters would be lighted up with solar power.

He said that 11 bus shelters have already been set up on Ferozepur Road.

He added that a modern vehicle inspection centre would be set up in Kot Lakhpat, which would ensure fitness of public transport vehicles in the City. Tasneem Noorani said that seven new bus depots would be constructed in the City. During first phase, four bus depots are being constructed at railway stations, general bus stands, Thokar Niaz Baig and Kahna in one year.

He said that the Premier Transport Company would provide 200 new buses. He said that the government would provide operational and upfront subsidy to CNG and diesel buses in Lahore. He said that LTC would ensure frequency of buses on bus stops operating under the auspices of private sector. Premier Bus Company Director Noor-ud-Din Ahmed has said that we will provide standardized and affordable transport to the people.